Questions – 12.17.2017

Small Groups at Lakeland exist to make disciples who make disciples in relational environments as we live out the four habits – accountability, shepherding, developing others, and on mission.

ICEBREAKER (optional): Are you a “New Year’s Resolution person” or not. Why or why not?

DISCUSSION STARTER (optional): Let’s start by asking if anyone has a specific takeaway from this weekend’s message that they’d like to share.

FOCUS QUESTIONS

For the past two weeks, we have heard that our past is written in marker and our future is written in pencil. As you think about the future, what word do you hope has been “penciled into” your story? What word are you most afraid is “penciled into” your story? (Tip: This is a heavy question to start with. As small group leader, you might need to go first to let your group think about it.)

As we heard this weekend, God is interested in renewal, restoration, and rebuilding. What is a situation (in your life or others) where you have seen God renew, restore, or rebuild? Was there ever a time where you found it hard to see God at work?

Our challenge at the end of the message: Find one area of your life to partner with God in restoration. What area/situation/relationship did God bring to mind? What is the first step? (This is a great SHEPHERDING and DEVELOPING OTHERS question!)

After Stephen’s death in the book of Acts, the Bible briefly highlights a little known follower of Christ named Philip (not Philip the Apostle) who partnered with God. Turn in your Bibles to Acts 8:26-40. [Read the passage] What was the first step toward partnering with God? (Answer: Following the directions that the angel gave him.)

What do we learn about Philip in this short passage? Why are these characteristics important for people who want to bring about God’s restoration in this world?

ON MISSION: From this short story in Acts, the church in Ethiopia was born. Today, there are over 50 million professing Christians. God used Philip to restore an entire nation. What is “your part” in God’s bigger story for your workplace, neighborhood, city, and county?

With many groups “on break” during this holiday season, this will be the last set of sermon questions for 2017. They will resume again during the first weekend in January for the “Life Hacks” sermon series.